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Associations with menopause and menopausal transition in a nationally representative US sample
Kate M Brett1, Glinda S Cooper
1Division of Epidemiology, National Center for Health Statistics/OAEHP, CDC/DHHS, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 6420, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA. kbrett@cdc.gov
Maturitas
|June 6, 2003
Summary
Smoking is linked to earlier menopause. Higher education may also influence menopausal timing, suggesting lifestyle and socioeconomic factors impact women's reproductive health.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Sociology of Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Menopause is a natural biological process with significant health implications.
- Sociodemographic and behavioral factors may influence menopausal timing and experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and behavioral factors and menopausal status in a U.S. population sample.
- To identify factors associated with premenopause, menopausal transition, and postmenopause.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
- Inclusion of women aged 40-54 years without surgical menopause.
- Logistic regression used to examine associations between menopausal status and smoking, race/ethnicity, education, BMI, exercise, and alcohol use.
Main Results:
- 20% of women were postmenopausal, 18% in menopausal transition, 61% premenopausal.
- Current cigarette smoking strongly associated with postmenopause (OR 2.2) and weakly with menopausal transition (OR 1.4).
- Higher education (college degree) associated with lower odds of postmenopause (OR 0.4). Alcohol use showed weak association with postmenopause.
Conclusions:
- Smoking appears to accelerate the menopausal transition.
- Education level may serve as a proxy for other exposures affecting ovarian aging.
- Findings highlight the influence of lifestyle and socioeconomic factors on menopausal status.